|
|
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
|
Why Newt Gingrich is surging in South Carolina
|
|---|
| Parent(s) |
Race
|
| Contributor | Brandonius Maximus |
| Last Edited | Brandonius Maximus Jan 20, 2012 09:50am |
| Logged |
0
|
| Category | Commentary |
| Author | JONATHAN MARTIN and ALEXANDER BURNS | |
| News Date | Friday, January 20, 2012 03:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — The final debate before the South Carolina primary brought into sharp relief why Newt Gingrich is re-emerging as a contender and Mitt Romney is stumbling toward the finish line.
With a rousing denunciation of the news media right out of the gate, Gingrich electrified the conservative audience here and temporarily defused an issue that poses a lethal threat to his campaign. Then he deftly portrayed his “grandiose” persona as nothing less than fully American. He also managed to tweak Romney with an act of strategic showmanship: recognizing Romney’s unease about releasing his income tax returns, the former House speaker released his own during the debate, baiting his rival into yet another painful episode about his wealth.
Romney, by comparison, worked his way through a series of halting answers on entirely predictable subjects, from his taxes to abortion to health care. All are issues he’s struggled with throughout the campaign, and it was never more evident than Thursday night that Romney hasn’t put them to rest — or even figured out how to speak about them comfortably.
The former Massachusetts governor’s awkwardness was underscored at every turn by Gingrich’s fluent, flamboyant performance. Already surging in South Carolina polls, the former speaker won his second standing ovation from a debate crowd in a week and put himself in a position to win Saturday’s primary with another impressive showing. |
| Share |
|
|
2¢
|
|
| Article | Read Full Article |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
|
